Srushti Utappati - Formation of the Universe

In Sankhya philosophy, Acharya Kapila Mahamuni has described 24 principles that are involved in the formation of the Universe. These are – Avyakta, Mahat, Ahankara, Mind, 5 Sense faculties, 5 Motor faculties, 5 Great elements and 5 Tanmatras. Avyakta Avyakta means unmanifested. The avyakta principle is the unmanifested form of pure existence. The origin of Universe is from avyakta. There are 2 main components.

Purusha

Prakruti

Purusha: Purusha is absolute, pure conciousness. It is a potential energy. Purusha does not take an active part in the creation. Purusha is the observer. It is only a witness to the creation. It exists as a choiceless, colorless, formless non-material entity.Prakruti: Prakruti is the creative, primordial and active form that plays the main role in the creation of the Universe. Prakruti remains avyakta till its time of manifestation. Once it manifests, Prakruti takes an active creative role in the formation of the Universe. Hence the root source in the creation of the Universe is said to be prakruti. Prakruti is a desire, it is an energy that has ability to differentiate and create. Prakruti has form and colour. It is the mother in the creation. Prakruti cannot exist without Purusha but Purusha can exist without Prakruti. When Prakruti and Purusha come together, they give rise to Mahad (Cosmic Intelligence).

Mahad (Cosmic Intelligence) This is the first primordial matter developed from Prakruti and Purusha. Mahad is defined as pure innate intelligence. It has self awareness but no differentiation. Mahad is Buddhi as reasoning capacity and individual intellect.

Ahankara (Ego) Mahad is pure intelligence but when it attains ego, it gives rise to Aahankara. Ahankara is associated with separation and differentiation. Ahankara is the ego i.e getting more attention to “I” that is self. Ahankara is all about focusing on the I.

Maha Gunas From the Ahankara, consciousness get divided into 3 different qualities these are also called as maha gunas, i.e. universe qualities.

Satva: Satva is the energy of the cognition. It’s the path of light and knowledge. It is clear.

Raja: Raja is the active form of energy, i.e. kinetic energy. Raja guna is the movement of precipitants, the time force that moves satva & raja.

Tamas: It is the material matter. Tamas is related with darkness and inertia.

By the combination of satva guna and rajas guna, 5 sensory organs, 5 motor organs and mind are developed. From tamo guna, 5 great elements and 5 tanmatras are developed.

5 Sensory OrgansThese are the jnyanendriyas.

Eyes: Chakshurendriya – we see the external world through eyes

Ears: Shravanenedriya – we hear sounds from the outside world with help of ears

Nose: Ghranenedriya – nose is the organ of smell

Tongue: Rasanendriya – we perceive sensation of taste with tongue

Skin: Sparshanendriya – sensation of touch is mediated by skin

5 Motor OrgansThese are the karmendriyas

Mouth: Vage – we talk with our mouth

Hands : Pani – we use hands to perform different activities

Legs : Pada – we use legs for walking

Genitals: Upastha – these are the genital organs

Anus: Guda – for excretion of waste products

Mann (Mind)Mind is an entity that has different qualities and performs myriad of functions. It is a tool for sensory as well as motor organs and hence is referred to as the eleventh indriya. Mind is very important in the process of gaining knowledge.Functions of mind: Thinking, analysis, problem solving, memory, setting goals, judgement, controlling self.Mind is extremely fast and it is invisible. Mind is only one but sometimes it appears as if we are having multiple minds. e.g. while watching moving we see and listen. But this is not true. As mind is only one it is able to perform one function at a time, but it has tremendous speed so we feel that all things are happening at a same time.Any kind of perception and functioning of sense organs or motor organs indicates the presence of mind. For getting any type of knowledge, one requires sense organs, objects and mind. For example, if one is reading a book but the mind is busy thinking about entirely different things, one will not be able to absorb what one are reading. Presence of mind is important for the process of knowledge. Mind posses the qualities of satva, raja and tama.

5 Subtle Essences (Tanmatras)Tanmatra is a Sanskrit word meaning "Subtle essence". Tanmatras or the 5 subtle essences give rise to the 5 great elements. Each great element is a combination of all 5 tanmatras but shows predominance of one tanmatra. The 5 tanmatras are Sound (Shabda), Touch (Sparsha), Vision (Roopa), taste (Rasa), Smell (Gnadha). These tanmatras are related to each sense organs.

5 Great Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)These are as follows:

Ether: (Akash Mhabhuta ) Ether element is the very first developed. It refers to space. Any space or cavity is due to ether element.

Air: (Vayu Mahabhuta) This principle developed after ether. It shows a sense of movement. Air element keeps the body in constant motion. It is dry, light, cold and subtle in nature.

Fire: (Teja Mahabhuta) The air element causes lots of movement, which can cause friction and lead to formation of heat.

Water: (Jala Mahabhuta) Water element is associated with qualities like liquidity or fluidity

Earth: (Prithvi Mahabhuta) Earth element is last formed It is solid dense, hard and heavy material.